IHO WG on Standards for Hydrographic Surveys

Annex B to HSSC8-05.7A

DRAFT

HS-WG

Terms of Reference (November 2016)

Reference: 8thHSSC [Monaco, 2016]

1 - Introduction:

The HSSC Committee noted the report and decided to create a Hydrographic Surveys Scoping Project Team (HS2PT) that would be tasked, for one year, to clarify the scope and the deliverables expected from any new hydrographic surveys working group, if and when established. The Committee approved the Terms of Reference provided in Annex B, requesting the Project Team to present its recommendations to the 8th meeting of the HSSC in November 2016.

S-44 provides minimum standards for hydrographic surveys for nautical charting and other associated uses. It therefore needs to be reviewed on a periodical basis in order to take account of the developments in requirements and in surveying equipment and procedures. The following note is taken from the Preface to the 4th Edition (1998) of S-44:

“It should be noted that the issue of a new standard does not invalidate charts and nautical publications based on previous standards, but rather sets the standards for future data collection to better respond to user needs.”

It should be noted as well that the Hydrographic Survey Work Group is intended to work on subjects related to Hydrographic Surveys, as a first approach the update of the IHO Publication S-44, and as the HSSC MS demand further tasks may be included on this TOR in order to revise or create other specific IHO publications.

2.Objective

To maintain IHO standards which apply to Hydrographic Surveys:

Objectives:

1. To prepare a draft 6th Edition of IHO publication Standards for Hydrographic Surveys (S-44) for approval by Member States. When undertaking this task the WG should consider, as a minimum, the following matters:

(i)To review the text of the S-44 5thEdition and identify where improvements can be made.

(ii)The applicability of the S-44 standard to all existing, emergent and future technologies, verifying the possibility to include for instance: Interferometric SSS, Hygh frequencies MB,LIDAR, Crowd Sourcingbathimetry,Satelite bathimetry,Wather Column /Multidetect, andSeafloor Backscatter as appropriate.

(iii)To bring up the needs of the users of the data, this may require the WG to look beyond bathymetry towards other navigational requirements such as seafloor characterization and the possible use of statistically generated surfaces as an output of hydrographic surveys, AIMING RESTRICTYLLY SAFETY OF NAVIGATION.

(iv)DEFINE, if and as appropriate, a relationship between survey orders in the IHO S-44 Publication and CAT ZOC used in S-57 ENC.

(v)Especify the way forward of the HSWG defining further actions working with other themes like Dredging, Offshore Construction, and others beyond Safety of Navigation.

3.Authority

This WG is a subsidiary of the Hydrographic Services and Standards Committee (HSSC). Its work is subject to HSSC approval.

4.Composition and Chairmanship

a)The WG shall comprise representatives of IHO Member States (MS), Expert Contributors (EC), observers from accredited NGIO, and a representative of the “IHO Secretariat”. A membership list shall be maintained and posted on the IHO website.

b)EC membership is open to entities and organizations that can provide a relevant and constructive contribution to the work of the WG.

c)The Chair and Vice-Chair shall be a representative of a MS. The election of the Chair and Vice-Chair shall be decided at the first meeting after each Assembly and shall be determined by vote of the MS present and voting.

d)If a secretary is required it should normally be drawn from a member of the WG.

e)If the Chair is unable to carry out the duties of the office, the Vice-Chair shall act as the Chair with the same powers and duties.

f)ECs shall seek approval of membership from the Chair.

g)EC membership may be withdrawn in the event that a majority of the MS represented in the WG agrees that an EC’s continued participation is irrelevant or unconstructive to the work of the WG.

h)All members shall inform the Chair in advance of their intention to attend meetings of the WG.

i)In the event that a large number of EC members seek to attend a meeting, the Chair may restrict attendance by inviting ECs to act through one or more collective representatives.

5. Procedures

a)The WG should:

(i)maintain S-44 by preparing and promulgating maintenance documents containing clarifications, corrections and extensions when required.

(ii)keep under review the related IHO publications and resolutions in order to advise HSSC on their updating.

b)The WG should work by correspondence, teleconferences, group meetings, workshops or symposia. The WG should meet about once a year. When meetings are scheduled, and in order to allow any WG submissions and reports to be submitted to HSSC on time, WG meetings should not normally occur later than nine weeks before a meeting of the HSSC.

c)Decisions should generally be made by consensus. If votes are required on issues or to endorse proposals presented to the WG, only MS may cast a vote. Votes at meetings shall be on the basis of one vote per MS represented at the meeting. Votes by correspondence shall be on the basis of one vote per MS represented in the WG.

d)The date and venue of group meetings shall normally be announced by the Chair at least six months in advance.

e)The draft record of meetings shall be distributed by the Chair (or the secretary) within six weeks of the end of meetings and participants’ comments should be returned within three weeks of the date of despatch. Final minutes of meetings should be posted on the IHO website within three months after a meeting.

f)Sub-working groups and project teams may be created by the WG or proposed to HSSC to undertake detailed work on specific topics. The terms of reference and rules of procedure of the sub-working groups and project teams are determined or proposed by the WG as appropriate.

g)The WG should liaise with other IHO bodies, international organizations and industry to ensure the relevance of its work and timely notice of changes to the standards.

h)The WG should prepare twice annually a report on its activities and a rolling two-year work plan, including expected time frame.

. The IHB will provide secretarial support to the Working Group.